engine oil dipstick

Sat Dec 29, 2012 4:25 pm

Good afternoon. I have a 1953 farmal cub. When checking the crankcase oil, if I put the dipstick in with the readings up, I show 1/2 quart down, if I put it in with the readings down, it shows 1/2 quart over. What makes for the different readings? The marks should go up when checking, right? Thanks, Bill

Re: engine oil dipstick

Sat Dec 29, 2012 5:20 pm

Mine also. My dipstick is off set to one side from the center of the breather cap.

What difference does it make? None. If you are concerned, just insert the dipstick with the blade up and down. Where the oil level crosses above or below the center of mark on the stick will indicate your oil level.

Re: engine oil dipstick

Sat Dec 29, 2012 6:08 pm

I guess it never occurred to me to insert one with the markings down. For that much difference, I guess you have one of the short dipstick/tubes. The longer one has a bend that brings the dipstick closer to vertical. I wouldn't expect much difference on them. I do recall once before someone having trouble with his readings. In his case, he had a long tube installed so it turned out rather than up. His dipstick ended up way to close to horizontal.

Re: engine oil dipstick

Sat Dec 29, 2012 7:38 pm

All of mine seemed off so on each one I made my own marks after filling with 3 quarts and running the engine a little while.You go around a lot of hill sides here so it needs all the oil it can get.

Re: engine oil dipstick

Sat Dec 29, 2012 8:41 pm

Yogie wrote:You go around a lot of hill sides here.....

Now there's an understatement!!

Re: engine oil dipstick

Sat Dec 29, 2012 8:45 pm

Hills, what hills?

KT

Re: engine oil dipstick

Sat Dec 29, 2012 8:58 pm

You two flat landers have probably never been in a spot where the radiator spewed coolant out of the top either have you....

Re: engine oil dipstick

Sat Dec 29, 2012 9:35 pm

Yogie wrote:You two flat landers have probably never been in a spot where the radiator spewed coolant out of the top either have you....

I'll bet sledding in the snow is much more exciting in your neck of the woods than here too.

Re: engine oil dipstick

Sat Dec 29, 2012 11:07 pm

Ricky, Yogie is still under the delusion that there are mountains where he lives.

Bob

Re: engine oil dipstick

Sun Dec 30, 2012 6:59 pm

I once had a problem with the dipstick on the 55 Cub which has the short tube into the crankcase. It was actually possible to install the dipstick such that the tip would slide above the sump tube from the pan bottom up to the oil pump. This put the dipstick much more horizontal to the oil level in the pan, Hence an erronious reading on the dipstick when removed. If you look into the short tube with a flashlight you can see this sump tube I am talking about. Once I figured out what was going on I tightened the rivit that holds the dipstick to the cap, (it was loose) and now am more careful to point the stick more vertical when installing. My cap actually rubs the hyd. lines at the wide point as it is being pushed down.You can see how close things are in the photo.

Re: engine oil dipstick

Sun Dec 30, 2012 7:36 pm

Dan, I had to replace and go with long tubes in all of mine, oil wanted to pour out when the sickle bar was up hill.

Re: engine oil dipstick

Mon Dec 31, 2012 8:21 am

Thanks to all who replied.I have been different oil readings for years. Dan Robertson hit the nail on the head. I have the offset dipstick and short tube. I did as he suggested and looked down the tube. There is an oil line at the bottom. I inserted the dipstick more verticle and got a full reading. When you put the dipstick in upside down, the offset lets it go past the oil line. Thanks for all the help. This is a great site. Everybody have a safe and great New Year. Bill

Re: engine oil dipstick

Mon Dec 31, 2012 8:33 am

Yogie wrote:You two flat landers have probably never been in a spot where the radiator spewed coolant out of the top either have you....

Yes, but it was from overheating. Vern

Re: engine oil dipstick

Mon Dec 31, 2012 10:14 am

When you check the oil put a rock under the tire on the down hill side of the oil pan. Or is it the up hill side?

Re: engine oil dipstick

Mon Dec 31, 2012 12:11 pm

Just put the tranny in 1 or R with the engine off. It won't roll. HA, HA.